Device for dispensing and applying lengths of adhesive tape

ABSTRACT

Devices are disclosed for applying sections of tape from a roll of tape with the tape trained about a polygonal feed block rotatably supported by a carriage under the control of means to reciprocate it between a first position and a second or tape section applying position. The device includes means turning the feed block and cutting the tape thereon to provide a severed section, neither operation being effected on movement of the carriage from the first to the second position. Carriage reciprocation is effected by various power operated means and such may include stroke adjustments and controls for varying the action of the power-operated means. Means are also disclosed enabling the spacing of the carriage relative to the work to be varied. Stripping means are also included when the tape has an interliner.

United States Patent [72] Inventor David G. Way 7 Boxborough, Mass. [21]Appl. No. 853,838 [22] Filed Aug. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971[73] Assignee Tapeler Corporation Newton, Mass.

[54] DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING LENGTHS 0F ADHESIVE TAPE 33Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 156/530, 156/523 [51] Int. Cl B32b 31/00 [50] Field oiSearch 156/523,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,146,283 8/1964 Da Valle242/56.8 1,636,611 7/1927 McGlynn 156/523 X 2,407,641 10/1946 Anderson.v 8 3/347 It 2,663,444 12/1953 Kaplan 156/523 3,310,451 3/1967 Hartleyet a1. 156/523 3,369,951 2/1968 Fritzinger 156/523 PrimaryExaminerSamuel F einberg Assistant Examiner-G. E. Montone An0rneyAbbottSpear ABSTRACT: Devices are disclosed for applying sections of tape froma roll of tape with the tape trained about a polygonal feed blockrotatably supported by a carriage under the control of means toreciprocate it between a first position and a second or tape sectionapplying position. The device includes means turning the feed block andcutting the tape thereon to provide a severed section, neither operationbeing effected on movement of the carriage from the first to the secondposition. Carriage reciprocation is effected by various power operatedmeans and such may include stroke adjustments and controls for varyingthe action of the power-operated means. Means are also disclosedenabling the spacing of the carriage relative to the work to be varied.Stripping means are also included when the tape has an interliner.

PATENTED DEC 7 l97l SHEET 1 BF 8 INVENTDR panda: 40.

ATTORNEY PATENTEDDEE 7197i 3525799 SHEET 2 UF 8 INVENTOR Y 00 4 La? 2ww/vy/z a ATTORNEY PATENTEUDEI: Hen 3625799 SHEET 4 (IF 8 ATTORNEYPATENTEUUEB 7197i 3525 799 sum 6 or 8 I NVE NTOR ATTORNEY PATENIEDDEB7|97| 3325799. SHEET 7 [1F 8 F|G.I7

b INZEINTOR' BY,

ATTORNEY PATENTEDBEB nan 3625799 SHEET 8 [1F 8 E E 25"} o FIG. l8

INVENTOR F1619 0w 3. A

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ATTORNEY DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING LENGTHS OF ADHESIVE TAPE Thepresent invention relates to devices for applying to a surface a sectionof tape from a roll of pressure-sensitive, heatsensitive, orpressure-heat-sensitive tape.

Devices such as are shown in US. Pat. No. 3,455,769 are effective inmaking tape applications for many purposes but are not adapted for usewhere the tape-applying feed block must travel a substantial distance orwhere the amount of force that can be applied to carry the feed blockinto its tape-applying position must be limited. The reason for thelatter limitation is that dispensers in accordance with said patentrequire that cutting and tape-unwinding be effected as part of thestroke bringing the feed block into a tape-applying position and thestroke is, additionally, opposed by return springs.

The principle objective of the present invention is to providedispensers that will be free of the above referred-to limitations, anobjective attained by providing a dispensing device in which theoperations of turning the feed block and cutting the tape thereon areboth divorced from the movement of the carriage for the feed block fromits first into its second or tape section-applying position, bothoperations desirably being efiected on the return of the carriage fromits second into its first positions.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide for adjustmentsin the length of the stroke of the carriage.

Other objectives of the invention are to provide a dispenser in whichthe rate of travel of the carriage or its force, or both, in either orboth directions of its travel can be adjusted.

Another objective of the invention is to provide devices in which taperolls of larger size can be used and yet another objective is to providedevices in which tapes of the type having an interliner can be used withthe interliner removed as such a roll is unwound during use.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown embodiments of theinvention illustrative of these and other of its objectives, novelfeatures, and advantages.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a device, in accordance with the invention, forapplying tape sections;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary and partly sectioned side view thereof on anincrease in scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front end view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section, on an increase in scale,taken approximately along the indicated lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the apparatus with the feed block in a tapesection-applying position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary and partly sectioned side view of the apparatuswith the feed block in said position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the feed block on a further increase inscale;

FIG. 8 is a like view of one of the side plates of the feed blockcarriage showing one of-the pressure feet;

FIG. 9 is a side view of apparatus in accordance with another embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view of apparatus in accordance with yetanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a section, on an increase in scale, taken approximately alongthe indicated lines lllI of FIG. 10;

FIG. I2 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 12I2ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a face view of a tape roll and its supporting hub;

FIG. 14 is a like view but with the roll supported by the hub;

FIG. 15 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 15-15ofFlG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a partly sectioned and somewhat schematic view illustratingan embodiment of the invention in which the carriage is lowered by meansof a spring and raised by fluid under pressure;

FIG. 17 is a like view of another embodiment in which the carriage israised by a spring and lowered by means of fluid under pressure;

FIG. 18 is a view of yet another embodiment in which the carriage israised by a spring and moved into its second position by electricallypowered means; and

FIG. 19 is a like view of another embodiment of the invention in whichthe carriage is lowered by a spring and returned to its first positionby electrically operated means.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 1-8, a support20 includes a base 21 and is cut away to provide an entrance 22 enablingthe work to be positioned on the base 21in the path of the carriage 23,the path including a cushion 24 embedded in the base 21. The support 20has an inturned flange 25 extending along its upper and rear edges.

Brackets 26 in support of the cylinder 27 of a double-acting,air-operated unit generally indicated at 28 are secured to the support20 by bolts 29 extending through vertically disposed slots 30 thus toposition the stem 31 of the unit 28 perpendicular to the base 21 and topermit the position of the cylinder 27 to be varied relative thereto. Atthe upper end of the stem 31 there is a split clamping ring 32 whoseends are joined by a clamping screw 33 enabling the ring 32 to be movedupwardly and downwardly on the stem 31 and locked in any desiredposition. The bottom face of the ring 32 carries a cushioning member 34.By these or equivalent means, the downward travel of the stem 31 may beaccurately limited.

A transverse arm 35 in support of a tape guide roll 36 is fixed on theupper end of the stem and provided with antifriction inserts 37, ofnylon, for example, see FIGS. 5 and 6, in engagement with the support 20thus to prevent the stem 31 from turning.

The carriage 23 is fixed on the lower end of the stem 31 and a sleeve 38on the stem 31 and butted against the carriage 23 carries a cushioningmember 39. The carriage 23 has axles 40, 41, and 42 as may best be seenin FIGS. 2, 6, and 7. The axle rotat'ably supports a feed block 43,shown as rectangular, with its corners establishing transverse, linearcutting edges. Pins 44 project laterally from the sides of the block 43,one pin at each corner thereof. The axle 41 is provided with a tapeguide roller 45 and the axle 42 has a yieldable backing 46 and isprovided with a rotatable anvil 47.

The lower bracket 25 has a depending arm 48 having a central, downwardlyopening slot 49. Pawl members 50 are interconnected as at 51 and each ispivotally connected to the arm 48 by a pivot pin 52 which also serves tosupport within the slot 49 a coil spring 53 whose ends are caught on thearm 48 and on the interconnection 51 thus to yieldably maintain theforked pawl ends 54 in a pin-engaging position with the upper ends ofthe pawl members 50 in engagement with stops 55 with which the arm 48 isprovided.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that when the stem 31 ismoved downwardly from its upper, first position, the opposition to suchmovement is only the slight resistance of the spring 53 as the pawlmembers 50 are forced away from their movable position by the uppermostproximate pins 44 as the carriage 23 is lowered and the resistance ofthe tape as it unwinds. The minimum downward movement of the stem 31,is, accordingly, that necessary to bring such uppermost pins 44 into aposition below the forked pawl ends 54 for engagement therewith on thereturn of the carriage 23 into its first position while its maximumstroke depends only on the maximum stroke the power operated unit 28provides.

On the return stroke, the pawl members 50, when engaged by the thenoperatively positioned pins 44 cause the feed block 43 to turn a quarterturn, in a counter clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6.Rotation of the feed block 43 in the other direction is prevented bymeans of a yieldably resilient latch 56 engageable by and holding a pin44 thus to prevent such turning.

The support 20 is also provided with a hub 57 in support of the core 58of a roll of tape 59. The hub 57 and core 58 are shown as of the typefully disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 798,852, filed Jan.9, 1969. The support 20 is also provided with a tape guide roller 60.

Tape 59 from the roll mounted on the hub 57 is trained about the guiderolls 60, 36, and 45 and sticky side out about the feed block 43 and, inorder that it may be held thereon the headed anchoring pins 61 areprovided, desirably two for each face of the feed block 43. The axle 40is shown as holding the pins 61 operatively exposed but has a cam recess62, see FIG. 2, to enable the pins 61 to move vertically out of theirholding position when the lowermost face of the feed block 43 comes intoengagement with a surface to which a tape section is to be applied. Asthe feed block 43 is turned on upward movement of the carriage 23, thetape covered corner, whose pins 44 are held by the forked pawl ends 54,comes into shearing contact with the anvil 47 thus to provide a severedtape section on the face of the feed clock 43 that is disposed towardsthe base 21 when the carriage 23 is returned into its uppermost or firstposition.

Where a tape roll of a large diameter is used, say to l2 inches, it isdesirable to provide a follower in engagement with the peripherythereof. For this purpose, the support 20 is provided with a pivot 63projecting from the side of the support 20 opposite to that on which thehub 57 is mounted. An arm 64 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 63 andhas a hub 65 on its upper end extending through an arcuate slot 66 inthe support 20 and rotatably supporting the core 67 of a friction roller68. The arm 64 is under the influence of a spring 69 yieldablymaintaining the friction roller 68 in contact with the periphery of thetape roll. As it may be desirable to limit the travel of the frictionroller 68 after the tape roll has been partially unwound, the support 20is provided with a series of threaded holes 70 spaced along one edge ofthe slot 61 for a threaded member 71 engageable by the arm 64 andfunctioning as a stop therefor, see FlGS. 1 and 5. The hub 65 and core67 are also of the type disclosed in the above referred-to application,Ser. No. 798,852.

The hub 57 and core 58 are detailed in FIGS. 12-14. The hub 57 iscylindrical .and houses a cup-shaped member 72 rotatably secured by aheaded pivot 73 threaded in the closed end of the hub 57 and supportinga coiled spring 74 confined between the pivot head and the closed end ofthe member 72 thus to provide a frictional drag between the member 72and the hub 57. A spring 75 is shown as being located within the member72 with one end 76 anchored thereto and the other end 77 projectingradially outwardly through a slot 78 extending transversely of themember 72. Atthe outer end of the member 72, there are a pair ofdiametrically opposed, outwardly disposed flanges 79 behind one of whichthe slot 78 is located and which are spaced apart to receive betweenthem the appropriate one of the inwardly disposed and diametricallyopposed flanges 80 of the core 58 thus to enable the core 58 to beslipped in place on the hub 57.

When a tape roll has thus been mounted on the hub 57 and the tape 59connected to the feed block 43 as above described, the core 58 has beenturned in a counterclockwise direction as it is viewed in FIGS. 1 and 14with its flanges 80 now in back of the flanges 79 and one of them inengagement with the spring end 77.

With this arrangement, a pull on the tape 59 first causes the core 58 toturn relative to the hub 57 with such turning yieldably cushioning thepull on the tape 59 as it is being unwound and, at the same time sotensioning the spring 75 as to enable it to turn the tape roll in awinding direction when the pull on the tape 59 is terminated andprovided that there is slack to be taken up. As the hub 65 and core 67are similar in construction, they are not detailed but it is noted thatits spring that corresponds to the spring 75 is necessarily of theopposite hand.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that on appropriate operation ofthe fluid pressure operated unit 28, the carriage 23 is reciprocatedfrom its first position into and out of its second position and backinto its first position. In the second position, a severed tape sectionis pressed against a surface by the feed block 43 and when the carriage23 has been returned into its first position, the feed block 43 has beenturned and another tape section severed and presented for subsequentapplication. To ensure that work is not picked up by the feed block 43as it moves with the carriage 23 from its second position, the carriage23 is provided with pressure or holddown feet 81.

As may best be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, each foot 81 includes a U-shapedupper end 82 slidably confined in a cavity 83 in a sideplate 84, eachsideplate 84 attached to the appropriate side of the carriage 23. Thefeet 81 normally depend below the feed block 43 and the upward movementof each is yieldably opposed by a spring 85 backed by a pin 86 thus toprovide holddown pressure on the work until the feed block 43 has becomeseparated from the severed tape section deposited on the work.

While the opposition to movement of the carriage 23 from its firstposition is so slight that it would move, when released, into its secondposition by gravity, it is usually desirable to have the carriage underthe control of power-operated means, the double-acting, air-operatedunit 28, for example. The air supply to the cylinder 27 of the unit isshown in FIG. 1 as including a four-way valve 87 having a supply conduit88 connected thereto and conduits 89 and 90 in communication withopposite ends of the cylinder 27, the conduits 89 and 90 being eachunder the control of a flow control valve 91 whereby the rate of travelof the carriage in either or both directions can be varied as desired.Desirably, where the contact of the feed block 43 with the work must belight, the conduit 89 is provided with an adjustable pressure regulator92. The four-way valve 87 may be of any conventional type and is notherein detailed. It may be either manually or automatically operated.

While the embodiment of the invention just described permits theposition of the air-operated unit 28 to be adjusted relative to the base21 and the length of the stroke varied, in some operations, suchadjustments may be inadequate. Reference is made to FIG. 9 wherein a box93 is being carried by a conveyor, generally indicated at 94. At oneside of the conveyor 94 there is a post 95 in support of a device inaccordance with the invention and identical to that just describedexcept that it does not have a base. Corresponding parts aredistinguished by the suffix addition A to the appropriate referencenumeral. The support 20A includes clamping rings 96 encircling the post95 and provided with clamping screws 97 thus providing means whereby thespacing of the device from the conveyor 94 may be varied as required. inFIG. 9, the follower arm 64A is urged towards the tape roll by acounterweight 69A instead of a spring.

Thus far, it is assumed that the tape being used is singlefaced,pressure-sensitive, heat-sensitive or pressure-heat-sensitive sensitivetape. With double-faced tapes, the tape 598, for example, the devicesmust have means for stripping the interliner 98 therefrom and referenceis now made to FIGS. 10-12 wherein parts that correspond to those ofpreviously described embodiments are distinguished by the suffix addition B to the appropriate reference numerals.

The support 20B has a mount 99 below and rearwardly of the periphery ofa tape roll mounted on the hub 578 supporting a tape guide roll 100 ofsmall diameter between its end walls 101. In practice, the ends of thetape 59B and the interliner 98 are separated and in order that the tape598 may be maintained sharply angled, there is provided a tape guideroll 102 on the infeed side of the guide roll 100 and a pair of tapeguide rolls 103 and 104 adjacent the outfeed side of guide roll 100, therolls 102 and 103 being shown as located to insure that, even withlarge-size tape rolls, the guide roll will establish an acute angle inthe tape 598. The tape 59B is, accordingly, disposed as shown in FIG. 10past the guide roll 102, about the angle-defining guide roll 100, andbetween the rolls 102 and 103. The tape 59B is then trained about theother guide rolls and connected to the feed block in the mannerpreviously described, see FIG. 1.

A stripping member 105 is then replaced and secured to the support 208as by means of a screw 106. The stripper 105 has a slot 107 dimensionedto receive the interliner 98 and in communication, when in place, with asimilarly dimensioned slot 108 opening through the base 21. The stripper105 has a transverse rounded shoulder 109 fitting against the end walls101 to define with the roll 100 a throat 110 dimensioned to receive thetape 59B. The shoulder 109 so intersects the slot 107 as to establish astraight edge 111. It will be noted that the slot 107, when the stripper105 is in place is in alignment with the path of the tape on the infeedside of the roll 100 so that the path of the stripped interliner 98 isstraight as it passes the edge 111 which is desirably a rounded edge andis disposed close to the roll 100 so as to prevent the interliner 98from being pulled into the throat 110 and substantially in the plane ofseverance between the tape 59B and its interliner 98.

In the embodiments of the invention previously described, thepower-operated means is air-operated and double-acting and embodimentsutilizing other power-operated means are shown in FIGS. 16-19.

As the device illustrated by FIG. 16 may be the same as any of thepreviously described embodiments, it will not be detailed except as toits power-operated means and corresponding parts are distinguished bythe suffix addition C to the appropriate reference numerals. The poweroperated means 28C has its stem 31C yieldably urged downwardly by aspring 112 within the cylinder 27C. Air is delivered into the bottom endof the cylinder 27C through a conduit 113 under the control of athree-way valve 114 and a flow control valve 115 adjustable to controlthe rate at which the stem 31C is raised to establish the first positionof the carriage 23C. The valve 114 may be manually or automaticallyoperated to close the cylinder 27C with reference to the conduit 116from a source of air under pressure and to connect it to the reliefconduit 117 thus to permit the spring 112 to move the carriage 23C intoits second position. Desirably the port 118 at the upper end of thecylinder 27C is controlled by a flow control valve 119 by which the rateof travel of the carriage 23C, in moving from its first to its secondposition, can be adjusted.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 17 partscorresponding to those previously described in other embodiments aredistinguished by the suffix addition D to the appropriate referencenumerals. The embodiment of FIG. 17 is the same as that of FIG. 16except that the function of the spring 112D is that of returning thecarriage 23D to its first position and the function of the air, when thesource is connected to the conduit 113D by the three-way valve 114D isto move the carriage 23D into its second position.

To the extent the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 18 is similarto those previously described, the same reference numerals are employedto indicate corresponding parts but these are distinguished by thesuffix addition E. In FIG. 18, the spring 112E yieldably maintains thecarriage 23E in its first position while a solenoid 120 is operable inresponse to the closing of a control circuit (not shown) either manuallyor automatically, to move the carriage 23E into its second positionagainst the action of the spring 112E.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 19, parts corresponding to thoseof previously described embodiments are distinguished by the suffixaddition F to the appropriate reference numeral. This embodiment isshown as identical to that of FIG. 18 except that the solenoid 120F isof the pull rather than the push type and the spring 112F yieldablyurges the carriage 23F into its first position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that devices in accordance withthe invention are well adapted to meet a wide range of operatingrequirements and conditions.

Iclaim:

l. A device for applying to a surface a section of tape from a roll ofpressure-sensitive, heat-sensitive, or pressure-heat-sensitive tape,said device comprising a support member, a carriage member, meansconnecting said members for movement of the carriage member betweenfirst and second positions relative to the support member, a feed blockabout which the tape is to be trained and which has a plurality ofangularly disposed faces and is axially supported by the carriage memberfor rotation relative thereto, each corner of the block providing atransverse, linear cutting edge, means to turn said block in onedirection through the angle defined by the radii of each two proximatecutting edges thereby to place a trailing face in a position forengagement with the surface when the carriage member is in its secondposition, said feed block including means operable to detachably anchorsaid tape to each face on engagement of the tape therewith andreleasable on engagement with said surface, and means carried by one ofsaid members and coacting with a trailing corner of the feed block andoperable prior to carriage movement from said first position to severthe tape on a leading face thus to provide a tape section thereon whenin said surface-engaging position, said turning means being connected tosaid fixed member and said turning and tape-severing means beingoperable when the carriage member moves from its second into its firstposition.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the carriage member moving meansincludes a reciprocable memberand the block turning means and the feedblock include coacting portions that are disengaged on movement of thecarriage member from its first position and become reengaged on movementof the carriage member towards its first position when the remainingdistance of travel is that required to effect the next turn of theblock.

3; The device of claim 2 in which the carriage member moving means alsoincludes power-operated means in control of the reciprocable member andoperatively connected to the support member.

4. The device of claim 2 and means to adjust the distance of travel ofthe reciprocable member.

5. The device of claim 3 and means to cushion the stroke at eachposition of the carriage member.

6. The device of claim 3 in which the carriage member is fixed on oneend of the reciprocable member, the support member has a stop, and anadjustable, stop-engaging member is carried by the reciprocable manner.

7. The device of claim 6 and a mount is fixed on the other end of thereciprocable member and the carriage member and the mount each carries atape guide roll.

8. The device of claim 7 in which the support member includes a hub forrotatably supporting a roll of tape and a tape guide roll near the guideroll of the stop-engaging member.

9. The device of claim 2 in which the coacting portions are pins carriedby the feed block and pawls carried by the support member, and meansestablishing a pin-engaging position for the pawl members when thecoacting portions are disengaged.

10. The device of claim 7 in which the support member and the mount haveportions slidably engageable and holding the reciprocable member fromturning.

11. The device of claim 1 and resiliently yieldable, work-engaging,pressure feet attached to the carriage member and having a normalposition projecting beyond the plane of the face of the feed block thatis disposed towards the work and yieldable to permit engagement of thatface with the work.

12. The device of claim 1 and means operable to reciprocate the carriagemember from its first position into and out of its second position andback into its first position.

13. The device of claim 12 and means operable to cushion the action theaction of the reciprocating means in both directions.

14. The device of claim 12 in which there are means to regulate the rateof travel of the carriage member, at least from its first to its secondposition.

15. The device of claim 12 in which there are means to regulate theforce of the carriage member, at least in its travel from its first toits second position.

16, The device of claim 12 in which, at least in the travel of thecarriage member from its first to its second position, there are meansboth to regulate its force and its rate of travel.

17. The device of claim 12 in which the power-operated means is adouble-acting, fluid pressure operated unit and a four-way valve incontrol of the unit.

18. The device of claim 17 in which the power-operated means includes aflow control valve in control of the rate of travel of the carriagemember, at least in movement from the first to the second position.

19. The device of claim 17 in which the power-operated means includes apressure regulator, in control of the carriage member, at least in itstravel from its first to its second position.

20. The device of claim 17 in which the power-operated means includes apair of valves in control of the travel of the carriage member from itsfirst position to its second position, one valve being a flow controlvalve and the other being a pressure regulator.

21. The device of claim 12 in which the power-operated means includes aspring urging the carriage in one direction and a power-operated deviceoperable to urge the carriage member in the other direction.

22. The device of claim 21 in which the spring urges the carriage memberinto its second position.

23. The device of claim 21 in which the spring urges the carriage memberinto its first position.

24. The device of claim 21 in which the power-operated device is asolenoid.

25. The device of claim 21 in which the power-operated device is a fluidpressure operated unit.

26. The device of claim 21 and means to regulate the rate travel of thecarriage member, at least in its travel from the first position to thesecond position.

27. The device of claim 21 and means to regulate the pressure exerted bythe carriage member, at least in its travel from its first to its secondposition.

28. The device of claim 21, and means in control of the power-operatedmeans, at least in its travel from its first to its second position toregulate both its rate of travel and its force.

29. The device of claim 25 in which the unit includes a delivery andrelief conduit and a three-way valve in control thereof.

30. The device of claim 20 and means operable to control the relief ofthe unit to modify the action of the spring.

31. A device for applying a tape section of a predetermined length froma roll of tape having at least one face coated with a pressure-sensitiveadhesive, said device including a support and hub on said support forrotatably supporting the core of a roll of tape and including rotatablebiasing means connectable to said core and operable to cushion anunwinding pull on the tape and yieldably urging the turning of the taperoll in a winding direction, reciprocable means carried by said supportand operable to form and apply a severed section and in one directionexerting an unwinding pull on the tape when a tape roll is mounted onsaid hub and connected to said means, and a follower including afriction roll for engagement with the periphery of the tape roll mountedon said hub, a member connected to said support for movement relativethereto as the mounted roll is unwound to maintain said friction roll incontact with the periphery of said tape roll, and rotatable biasingmeans connecting said friction roll to said member and operable tocushion an unwinding pull on the tape and yieldably urge the frictionroll to urge the turning of the tape roll in a winding direction.

32. The device of claim 31 and means limiting the action of the followerafter the tape roll has been unwound to a predetermined extent.

33. The device ofclaim 32 in which the tape roll hub also includes anadjustable drag.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the carriage member moving meansincludes a reciprocable member and the block turning means and the feedblock include coacting portions that are disengaged on movement of thecarriage member from its first position and become reengaged on movementof the carriage member towards its first position when the remainingdistance of travel is that required to effect the next turn of theblock.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which the carriage member movingmeans also includes power-operated meanS in control of the reciprocablemember and operatively connected to the support member.
 4. The device ofclaim 2 and means to adjust the distance of travel of the reciprocablemember.
 5. The device of claim 3 and means to cushion the stroke at eachposition of the carriage member.
 6. The device of claim 3 in which thecarriage member is fixed on one end of the reciprocable member, thesupport member has a stop, and an adjustable, stop-engaging member iscarried by the reciprocable member.
 7. The device of claim 6 and a mountis fixed on the other end of the reciprocable member and the carriagemember and the mount each carries a tape guide roll.
 8. The device ofclaim 7 in which the support member includes a hub for rotatablysupporting a roll of tape and a tape guide roll near the guide roll ofthe stop-engaging member.
 9. The device of claim 2 in which the coactingportions are pins carried by the feed block and pawls carried by thesupport member, and means establishing a pin-engaging position for thepawl members when the coacting portions are disengaged.
 10. The deviceof claim 7 in which the support member and the mount have portionsslidably engageable and holding the reciprocable member from turning.11. The device of claim 1 and resiliently yieldable, work-engaging,pressure feet attached to the carriage member and having a normalposition projecting beyond the plane of the face of the feed block thatis disposed towards the work and yieldable to permit engagement of thatface with the work.
 12. The device of claim 1 and means operable toreciprocate the carriage member from its first position into and out ofits second position and back into its first position.
 13. The device ofclaim 12 and means operable to cushion the action of the reciprocatingmeans in both directions.
 14. The device of claim 12 in which there aremeans to regulate the rate of travel of the carriage member, at leastfrom its first to its second position.
 15. The device of claim 12 inwhich there are means to regulate the force of the carriage member, atleast in its travel from its first to its second position.
 16. Thedevice of claim 12 in which, at least in the travel of the carriagemember from its first to its second position, there are means both toregulate its force and its rate of travel.
 17. The device of claim 12 inwhich the power-operated means is a double-acting, fluid pressureoperated unit and a four-way valve in control of the unit.
 18. Thedevice of claim 17 in which the power-operated means includes a flowcontrol valve in control of the rate of travel of the carriage member,at least in movement from the first to the second position.
 19. Thedevice of claim 17 in which the power-operated means includes a pressureregulator in control of the carriage member, at least in its travel fromits first to its second position.
 20. The device of claim 17 in whichthe power-operated means includes a pair of valves in control of thetravel of the carriage member from its first position to its secondposition, one valve being a flow control valve and the other being apressure regulator.
 21. The device of claim 12 in which thepower-operated means includes a spring urging the carriage in onedirection and a power-operated device operable to urge the carriagemember in the other direction.
 22. The device of claim 21 in which thespring urges the carriage member into its second position.
 23. Thedevice of claim 21 in which the spring urges the carriage member intoits first position.
 24. The device of claim 21 in which thepower-operated device is a solenoid.
 25. The device of claim 21 in whichthe power-operated device is a fluid pressure operated unit.
 26. Thedevice of claim 21 and means to regulate the rate of travel of thecarriage member, at least in its travel from the first position to thesecond position.
 27. The device of claim 21 and means to regulate thepressure exerted by the carriage member, at least in its travel from itsfirst to its second position.
 28. The device of claim 21, and means incontrol of the power-operated means, at least in its travel from itsfirst to its second position to regulate both its rate of travel and itsforce.
 29. The device of claim 25 in which the unit includes a deliveryand relief conduit and a three-way valve in control thereof.
 30. Thedevice of claim 29 and means operable to control the relief of the unitto modify the action of the spring.
 31. A device for applying a tapesection of a predetermined length from a roll of tape having at leastone face coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, said deviceincluding a support and hub on said support for rotatably supporting thecore of a roll of tape and including rotatable biasing means connectableto said core and operable to cushion an unwinding pull on the tape andyieldably urging the turning of the tape roll in a winding direction,reciprocable means carried by said support and operable to form andapply a severed section and in one direction exerting an unwinding pullon the tape when a tape roll is mounted on said hub and connected tosaid means, and a follower including a friction roll for engagement withthe periphery of the tape roll mounted on said hub, a member connectedto said support for movement relative thereto as the mounted roll isunwound to maintain said friction roll in contact with the periphery ofsaid tape roll, and rotatable biasing means connecting said frictionroll to said member and operable to cushion an unwinding pull on thetape and yieldably urge the friction roll to urge the turning of thetape roll in a winding direction.
 32. The device of claim 31 and meanslimiting the action of the follower after the tape roll has been unwoundto a predetermined extent.
 33. The device of claim 32 in which the taperoll hub also includes an adjustable drag.